Data Journalism in Arkansas
Jour 401v - Jour 508v, Fall 2021
Class Time: Monday-Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
Aug. 23 - Dec. 9, 2020
Rob Wells, Ph.D.
rswells@uark.edu
@rwells1961
These assignments topics may shift and evolve as we continue our reporting during the semester. I will provide advance notice of any changes.
1: Data Analysis. Due Sept. 12 Students will gather, analyze and visualize Arkansascovid data and report and write a 400 word story and provide social media with a basic chart.
2: Reporting Memo with Tableau Chart. Due Oct 5
Students gather, analyze and visualize Arkansascovid data and produce a Tableau chart suitable for publication. Data dictionary required. Report and write a 400 word story and provide social media.
3: Interactive Map. Due Oct 26 Students will build interactive maps of Arkansascovid data. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required. Basic R used for analysis. Report and write a 400 word story.
4: Interactive Data Visualization. Due Nov 16. Students build multipanel interactive graphics / maps of Arkansascovid data by school district. Basic R used for analysis. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required. Report and write a 600 word story.
5: Multimedia Data Story. Due Dec 3. Students will produce a blog post with photos, a short video, a map and an interactive graphic plus a 400 word story. Basic R used for analysis. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required.
Agenda:
--Discuss syllabus
--Blackboard site
--Arkansascovid.com
--Excel / Flourish Exercise with Arkansascovid data
--Teams
--Interview a classmate for homework
Discuss Syllabus
https://forms.office.com/r/nrySuungzH
Basic Excel
Click below on the ebook link, See Section "3 Introduction to Data Analysis"
https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Create a Flourish account
https://app.flourish.studio/login
Teams
See Chapter: Teams
https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Homework
Write 200 Word Story Introducing A Classmate To The Rest of Us. Due Tuesday, 11:59 pm, Blackboard.
What questions will you ask? Let’s brainstorm
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ZlhnxEkJi88spQ_3lyGni8TtF97KcIu1R5nAQonfLk/edit?usp=sharing
Read / View Before Next Class
Sheffo, Catherine. “How to Avoid 10 Common Mistakes in Data Reporting.” American Press Institute (blog), August 9, 2016. https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/data-reporting-common-mistakes/
Chapter 3 Introduction to Data Analysis https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Flourish Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKO_jjqgooc&feature=emb_title
Agenda
Arkansascovid.com
Introduction Stories
Intellectual Property / Data Sharing Releases
Pair-Share on Sheffro reading
Resume Excel exercise - sorting
Intro to Flourish
Intellectual Property / Data Sharing Releases
UofA Rules of Conduct
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YkdkRIzIs1WQ3P9KIICvHcppfWvwTyo2bRhGwQPsgVE/edit
License Agreement
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AahzxDOzTf9Z6PBjBvFBOjnn9_BiM4YldnXW-mHZr9s/edit
How to Create a Flourish Chart
Create a Flourish account
https://app.flourish.studio/login
See Chapter: Flourish
https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Excel Proficiency
Entering data, cursors, formatting, sum, average, median, change, percent change.
–See exercise in Ch. 4 Excel Bootcamp
See Ch. 7, Organize Your Data
Skills: Data Dictionary, Part 1
Skills: Organize Your Data. Finder, Storage, File Organization
https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Jour 5083 _ Nerd Corner
Ch. 13 R Introduction, get the program loaded on your computer, walk through a script in the next class.
https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Read Before Next Class
Sage Research Methods: Choosing the Right Visualization Tools for COVID-19 Data https://methods.sagepub.com/video/srmpromo/UEODnk/choosing-the-right-visualization-tools-for-covid-19-data
Principles of Data Visualization https://wordpressua.uark.edu/datareporting/data-visualization/
Gov. Hutchison’s YouTube Channel. Check the Aug. 19 event https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLJcNdgp2PMEmiqJEoYzqwQ
Homework due Friday, Aug. 27, 11:59 p.m. –See Blackboard for Excel assignment
–See Blackboard, Data Literacy Test
Agenda
Excel and calculations
Flourish
Excel
Percentage Change
Average
Tabs
Data Dictionary
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Arkansascovid/Main/master/MasterData/vaccine.csv
Flourish
Videos to Get Started
Beginning Documents
Flourish Design Tips
Flourish Links
Visualization Options
Headline, Footer Formatting
Sourcing
Colors
Homework due Tuesday, Aug 31, 11:59 p.m.
–See Blackboard, Aug 31
Read Before Next Class
Chapter: Introduction to Data Analysis https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
View and Read Flourish Tutorials Before Next Class
Agenda
Excel
Flourish
Review Introduction to Data Analysis
Introduction to data analysis, including math for journalists
Basics of Data Analysis
Numbers in the Newsroom
Excel Exercises
Review: Mac OSX Basics
Reminder: Assignment 1: Data Analysis. Due Sept. 12 Students will gather, analyze and visualize Arkansascovid data and report and write a 400 word story and provide social media with a basic chart.
Talk to me about your ideas.
Homework / Reading due Friday, Sept. 3, 11:59 p.m.
See Blackboard.
Homework / Reading due Tuesday, Sept. 7, 11:59 p.m.
Includes Data Literacy Test See Blackboard.
View and Read Flourish Tutorials Before Next Class
Ravi Brock and Flourish in 9 mins
https://video.uark.edu/media/Flourish+tutorial+with+Ravi+Brock/1_g6nzw3h0
Cairo - Flourish - Stories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7AmUdSBOVU
Chapter: Data Visualization
https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Happy Labor Day! No Class
Agenda
Workshop on Assignment #1
Sorting
Flourish Formatting
Discuss, Work on Data Analysis Assignment.
Data cleaning
Filtering
Reading Data Dictionaries
Data Cleaning Exercises
Homework: See Blackboard, Sept. 10 Homework
Reminder: Assignment 1: Data Analysis. Due Sunday Sept. 12
Read Before Next Class
Chapter: Data Visualization https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Agenda
Principles of Data Visualization
Tableau
Students will gather, analyze and visualize Arkansascovid data and report and write a 400 word story and provide social media with a basic chart.
Data Visualization
Principles of Data Visualization
Cleveland McGill Scale
Important Resources for Surveying the Data Visualization Options
Color Choices
Build a Cover Image Using Canva or InDesign or Powerpoint
Higher Resolution Graphics in Tableau
Basic Tableau
Downloading instructions for Tableau
Getting started tutorial with video
Building a basic COVID data chart with video and transcript
Using filters and calculations with video and transcript
Tutorial on Tableau calculations with video
Proper formatting of a filter bar in Tableau, video
Links to additional Tableau Tutorials
-Read our reader feedback on the new site. Draft a response to this person. We’ll discuss and then send one
See “Stacy Robinson Your Post on Twitter” in Files | Teams
https://bit.ly/32tw7Q1
Read Before Next Class
Chapter: Tableau https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Agenda
Tableau
Read Before Next Class
Chapter: Writing About Data https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Homework: See Blackboard, Friday Sept. 17
Agenda
Basic Tableau
Downloading instructions for Tableau
Getting started tutorial with video
Building a basic COVID data chart with video and transcript
Using filters and calculations with video and transcript
Tutorial on Tableau calculations with video
Proper formatting of a filter bar in Tableau, video
Links to additional Tableau Tutorials
-For Wednesday
Chapter: Writing About Data https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Agenda
Writing About Data
Writing About Data
Writing Style Notes
Common Errors – Math
AP Style with Numbers
Exercise: Peer Editing of Unedited Data Stories
Read Before Next Class
Chapter: Tableau Maps https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Agenda
Tableau - Maps
Mapping tutorial & sample dataset
Build a Map COVID-19 Positivity in Arkansas Counties
Video
Dual Mapping - Bubble Maps
Reminder: Assignment 2: Reporting Memo with Tableau Chart, Due Oct 5 Students gather, analyze and visualize Arkansascovid data and produce a Tableau chart suitable for publication. Data dictionary required. Report and write a 400 word story and provide social media.
Read Before Next Class
Chapter: Tableau Maps https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Agenda
Tableau Maps
Questions About Assignment 2, due Monday
Tableau - Maps
Mapping tutorial & sample dataset
Build a Map COVID-19 Positivity in Arkansas Counties
Video
Dual Mapping - Bubble Maps
Tableau - Maps
Mapping tutorial & sample dataset
Build a Map COVID-19 Positivity in Arkansas Counties
Video
Dual Mapping - Bubble Maps
Exercises
Read Before Next Class
Chapter: WordPress https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
WordPress
Using WordPress
Access back end
Embedding interactive data
Embed Flourish in WordPress
Embed Tableau in WordPress
Building the Web Page
Agenda
Embed visualizations in WordPress
Due Oct 5
Students gather, analyze and visualize Arkansascovid data and produce a Tableau chart suitable for publication. Data dictionary required. Report and write a 400 word story and provide social media.
Agenda
WordPress
Using WordPress
Access back end
Embedding interactive data
Embed Flourish in WordPress
Embed Tableau in WordPress
Building the Web Page
–Histograms
–Rates and Ratios
–Weighted Averages
–Vaccinations by Race example
Assignment 3: Interactive Map.
Due Oct 26
Students will build interactive maps of Arkansascovid data.
Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required.
Basic R used for analysis. Report and write a 400 word story.
Exercises
Agenda
–Histograms
–Rates and Ratios
–Weighted Averages
–Vaccinations by Race example
Homework: See Blackboard for Friday Oct 15
Agenda
R Introduction Discuss Assignment 3 Interactive Map
Chapter: R_Intro
https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Introduction to R
Install R and R Studio.
Basic tutorial on R
R1_Intro-to-R exercises
Reading
Reproducible research Repetitive tasks in modern newsrooms
Popular R Libraries
Data Types and R
Reference: Logical Operators in R
Packages
Important Reference Materials
R and R Studio
Discuss Assignment 3: Interactive Map. Due Oct 26
Students will build interactive maps of Arkansascovid data. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required. Basic R used for analysis. Report and write a 400 word story.
Exercise
–Left click on the link below, remove .txt extension, save as all files
https://github.com/profrobwells/CovidFall2020/blob/master/Exercises/Intro%20to%20R%208-20-2020.Rmd
Second option: If that isn’t successful, then go to the https://raw.githubusercontent.com/profrobwells/CovidFall2020/master/Exercises/Intro%20to%20R%208-20-2020.Rmd –Left Click on document –Save as ALL FILES. REMOVE .TXT extension
Third option: Download "Intro to R 8_20_2020.rmd from your browser directly. https://github.com/profrobwells/CovidFall2020/tree/master/Exercises
Homework: Finish Tutorial R1_Intro-to-R exercises
Chapter: R Intro https://bookdown.org/connect/#/apps/f79d74ff-4d33-4bfd-a1aa-de6aaf4e340a/access
Agenda
Introduction to R
Key Points
Reproducible research
Repetitive tasks in modern newsrooms. Employment reports, crime stats, budgets
Variables - an R object
Assignment operator <-
Case sensitive
Vector: A vector can only have one type of data - all integers, all strings
Dataframe - like a spreadsheet
Save files - Don’t save workspace: because all of your variables will be
stored and re-loaded the next time you launch RStudio.
It’s too easy to forget about previously stored variables that can
interfere with later work
Software packages: tidyverse, rio, pacman
–Exercises
Homework: Friday Oct. 22 Homework. –See Blackboard
Agenda
R Tables Exercises
Due Oct 26 Students will build interactive maps of Arkansascovid data. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required. Basic R used for analysis. Report and write a 400 word story.
Pipes - a Much-Used Command to Link Filters, Functions
pipe %>% CMD + Shift + M
Five basic verbs filter() select() arrange() mutate() summarize() plus group_by()
Check what software packages are running: Global Environment Navigation: ^ + shift + 8 = Zoom to Environment AP Style on numbers: AP Numerals Entry.pdf
Agenda
Tidyverse
Dplyr
Math with R
Exercises
Homework: Friday, Oct 29 –See Blackboard
Agenda
Lubridate
top_n
Top_n
List of Days of Most New Cases
https://app.flourish.studio/visualisation/4007988/edit
Data is topcases.csv
Values: Date, New Cases Today (column D)
--R table automatically selects the top 10.
--no filter
Exercises
Using Lubridate
Download:
Homework: Tuesday, Nov. 2 Homework -See Blackboard
Agenda
Continue R exercises
Filter between dates
Exercises
Notes: How Do I? https://smach.github.io/R4JournalismBook/HowDoI.html
Download:
Read Before Next Class
Agenda
Calculations in R
Discuss Assignment 4
Assignment 4: Interactive Data Visualization. Due Nov 16. Students build multipanel interactive graphics / maps of Arkansascovid data by school district. Basic R used for analysis. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required. Report and write a 600 word story.
Exercises
Using R to Shorten, Simplify the Master File https://github.com/profrobwells/CovidFall2020/blob/master/Exercises/Slicing-Dicing%20Data%2010-14-2020.Rmd
Red vs Blue Covid election results map
https://apnews.com/article/counties-worst-virus-surges-voted-trump-d671a483534024b5486715da6edb6ebf
Agenda
Graphics - ggplot
Discuss Assignment #4
Quick Charts in Daily Script
How We Did This: Daily Update Script
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/profrobwells/CovidFall2020/master/Daily%20Update.Rmd
R data visualization
Basic GGPLOT
Using color
Formatting PNG for export
Scatterplots
Histograms
Box plots
Line graphs
ggplot cookbook 4-26-20.rmd
We will build this today
GGPLOT Cookbook
New Fun with Sicing and Dicing
https://github.com/profrobwells/CovidFall2020/blob/master/Exercises/Slicing-Dicing%20Data%2010-14-2020.Rmd
Agenda
Graphics
Red vs Blue Covid election results map
Due Nov 16.
Students build multipanel interactive graphics / maps of Arkansascovid data by school district. Basic R used for analysis. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required. Report and write a 600 word story.
Exercises
We will build this today
GGPLOT Cookbook
New Fun with Sicing and Dicing
https://github.com/profrobwells/CovidFall2020/blob/master/Exercises/Slicing-Dicing%20Data%2010-14-2020.Rmd
Agenda
GGPLOT
Feeding R to Flourish
Exercise
Katy’s Chart
https://app.flourish.studio/visualisation/4380046/edit
Tutorial
Details on Line Chart Race
https://help.flourish.studio/article/75-line-chart-race-an-overview
Details of a Bar Chart Race
https://help.flourish.studio/article/44-bar-chart-race-an-overview
Attempt at a Bar Chart Race by County on New Deaths
--Formatting Data to Match Flourish Requirements.
--Pivot Table
https://app.flourish.studio/visualisation/4379103/edit
Your Turn:
Build Cases Per 10,000
Build Demographics Over Time
Build Counties Over Time
Read Before Next Class
Agenda
Discuss Assignment 5
Datawrapper
Assignment 5: Multimedia Data Story. Due Dec 3. Students will produce a blog post with photos, a short video, a map and an interactive graphic plus a 400 word story. Basic R used for analysis. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required.
Datawrapper
Exercises
Create Monthly Totals for November
Create a New R Markdown File for November Totals
Use this Slicing and Dicing Exercise as a Template
Monthly Totals for Hospitals, Deaths, New Cases
Visualize in Flourish
Post your code on Teams
Homework: Tuesday, Nov. 30. –See Blackboard
Due Dec 3. Students will produce a blog post with photos, a short video, a map and an interactive graphic plus a 400 word story. Basic R used for analysis. Results will be posted on GitHub. Data dictionary required.
Agenda
Workshop on Assignment 5
Agenda
Datawrapper
Important!
Course Evaluation
Please do me a favor and evaluate this course.
It's important to me and the department to get your thoughts
on what worked and what did not.
If you think it is important,
then please take five minutes to fill out the survey.
Exercises: Basic GitHub
This class is intended to teach you modern workflow techniques for coding. A centerpiece of that workflow is GitHub. This is a website with a system that allows you to collaborate with other programmers on coding projects. It manages versions of software code and is a very popular with the tech elite.
Your GitHub account, which is public, represents an important professional image. Prospective employers and collaborators will look at your GitHub account.
Create a GitHub account
Exercise #1: Hello World Setup
https://guides.github.com/activities/hello-world/
Exercise #2: GitHub flow
https://guides.github.com/introduction/flow/
Help Files
https://help.github.com/en/desktop
Exercise #3: Pull Request
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MbltRcOerktc-E26HMDjYj0BO9CTubQWu1Z2bB9CpVY/edit#slide=id.g448ccc227721fe56_10
See the above link, Max Harlow on How to Use GitHub
1. Create a test repository, call it "Junk"
2. Commit copies of a random R script and a random text .txt file
3. Pair up with a buddy. Follow them on GitHub
4. Fork their Junk repository
5. Report an Issue on their repository. See slides #47-53
6. Create a pull request on their repository. See slides #54-68
7. Resolve the issues and pull request for your own GitHub account.
8. Revel in your nerd powers. Watch Star Trek reruns. Eat Pringles.
GitHub Resources
Basic GitHub 4-22-19.R
https://bit.ly/2UAMGTd
Another GitHub guide
https://andrewbtran.github.io/NICAR/2018/workflow/docs/03-integrating_github.html
Simplified GitHub- GitHub Desktop
https://help.github.com/en/desktop
Setting up an R Workflow
http://learn.r-journalism.com/en/publishing/workflow/r-projects/
Advanced: Set Up GitHub in an R Project https://support.rstudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/200532077?version=1.2.5033&mode=desktop
Agenda
GitHub
Wrap up
Congratulations!
We covered a lot this semester
–30–